In his attempt to get God to change his attitude and save his people, the psalmist recalls Israel’s history, how God had cared for them, led them into the Promised Land, and made them prosper. The psalmist uses the allegory of a grapevine as a figure for Israel; this figurative language often appears in the Bible (see especially Isa 5.1-7). In graphic language he describes how God brought the Israelites out of Egypt into Canaan (verse 8); in verse 8b he departs from his allegory and uses literal language in the first half of the line (see the same expression in 78.55). The nations are the original inhabitants of the land of Canaan. In verse 9a, in the metaphor of a farmer clearing a field, the psalmist uses figurative language to repeat what was said literally in verse 8b; and in verse 9b the strength and expansion of Israel in Palestine are described.

Because the events in line b follow those in line a, it may be necessary to make this clear by saying, for example, “You brought a grapevine out of Egypt, and when you had driven out the other nations you planted it.”

In some languages it will be necessary to substitute another fruit bearing vine for the grapevine of Good News Translation. In some cases, even where the vine image is retained, it will be necessary to make the allusion clear by shifting to a simile; for example, “You brought your people like a grapevine out of Egypt.”

The translator will have to determine whether these agricultural figures of clearing the land, planting the shoot of a grapevine, and the sprouting and growth of the vine will make sense to readers. If not, something like the following may serve as a model:

• 8 You brought your people out of Egypt;
you expelled the peoples who lived in Canaan
and let your people take possession of the land.
9 After you drove out those other nations,
your people settled in Canaan
and spread out over the whole land.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .